$10k for better health for homeless

AMA Queensland Foundation has donated $10,000 to The VacSeen Project, a volunteer organisation that provides free flu and COVID vaccinations to people experiencing homelessness and other disadvantage.

VacSeen runs GP-led pop-up outreach health clinics in places vulnerable people feel most comfortable, such as homeless shelters, hostels and social housing. 

AMA Queensland Foundation Chair, Dr Dilip Dhupelia, said this donation builds on the Foundation’s 22-year history of helping Queenslanders who do not easily access mainstream health services.

“Accessibility and cost should not be a barrier to preventative healthcare such as flu and COVID-19 vaccines for anyone in Queensland,” Dr Dhupelia said.

“The dedicated team at The VacSeen Project aim to ensure vulnerable groups do not fall through the cracks in our health services.

“We are delighted to donate $10,000 to support VacSeen and be a part of their mission to prevent disease by taking medicine into non-medical spaces and directly engaging with vulnerable people in our community.”

The donation will help VacSeen cover the costs of running clinics in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Townsville, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, and other regional areas, including consumables, equipment, nursing costs, PPE, vaccine fridges, RATs, and incentives including supermarket gift vouchers.

CEO of The VacSeen Project, Jeremy Hunt, said it costs approximately $15 to deliver each vaccine, including the cost of the vaccine, equipment and other support.

“As VacSeen is an entirely volunteer run organisation, the donation from the AMA Queensland Foundation will go a long way.

“With this generous donation we will be able to expand our services beyond Brisbane to help vulnerable populations across Queensland access vaccines at pop-up outreach clinics.”

The Foundation is the charitable arm of AMA Queensland established by doctors in 2000 to identify and address gaps in the health system and directly help Queenslanders who need it most.

Make a tax-deductible donation today so the Foundation can continue to help organisations like The VacSeen Project and support more Queenslanders in need.

Donate today.

UPCOMING CLINICS 

BRISBANE

• Monday 20 June, 4:30pm - 6pm, Bowen Hills
• Tuesday 21 June, 11am - 1pm, Spring Hill
• Tuesday 21 June, 2pm -3:30pm, Wynnum
• Wednesday 22 June, 10:30am - 1pm, Spring Hill
• Wednesday 22 June, 6pm -7:30pm, Spring Hill
• Thursday 23 June, 9:30am - 11am, Bowen Hills

BUNDABERG

• Saturday 18 June, 10am - 11:30am

TOOWOOMBA

• Tuesday 5 July, 4pm - 6pm

GOLD COAST

• Tuesday 5 July, 6pm - 8pm

NEW SERVICE

• A regular medical student-led, GP-supervised weekly health clinic, in partnership with Beddown, is launching on June 29.